Dental attachment for removable bridgework



June 17, 1930. E. H. ECKER 1,764,781

DENTAL ATTACHMENT FOR yiEMovABLE BRIDGEWORK Filed March" 6 1929 IN VEN TOR.

EVWARD H. ECKER WI M\ ATTORNEY .Patented Jam 17, 1930 UNITE EDWARD H. EGKER, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

DEITTAL ATTAOHMENT non REMOVABLE nnrnonwonx Application filed March 6,

My invention relates to removable bridgework, and. more particularly to improvements in the type of dental attachmentsem ployed therefor. I

It has been the aim of my invention primarily to provide a dental attachment for retaining a'removable bridge'in the mouth, against unintentional dislodgement, whereb the frictional engagement between an up right member permanently positioned in the mouth, and an adjustable receptacle member on the bridge furnishes the retention for the removable bridge.

j A further purpose of this invention has been the provision oi an upright member of simple construction, adapted-to beperma nently attached to a crown or inlay preparation on the abutment tooth in the mouth, thereby obviating the necessity of preparing a deep or complicateddental preparation on the abutment-tooth. It has been a further aimto provide a means for adjusting the degree of frictional engagement between the upright and its receptacle, as a part of the receptacle member, simple in construction and positive in operation. 1

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent and pointed out in the description following andfrom the accompanying drawing, wherein like references indicate corresponding parts in the va rious views wherein:

Figure 1 shows a view of my removable bridge attachment in perspective.

Figure 2 shows a view of the socket member of the attachment in perspective.

Figure 3 shows a view of the two leaf' spring member of the attachment in perspective. V

Figure 4 shows a view of a removable dental bridge utilizing my attachments in perspective. s

Figure 5 shows an assembled viewof my attachment in perspective.

Figure 6 shows an elevational view of my attachment in section.

composed of a socket 1929. Serial No. 344,669.

attachment of circular section. The upright member of the attachment comprises a circu lar body 1 having formed integral thereto and extending throughout its length, the web 2. This Web element has been shown of slight concavity conforming substantially to Y the contour of a tooth. The body 1 has cut longitudin ally throughout its length the groove 3, positioned diametrically opposite to the web.

The receptacle member of the attachment, referring to F ig. 2, is formed to engage the upright member in a snug sliding ,fit, and is 4 having positioned in the wall thereof the rectangular opening 5.

The socket 4 has the recess 6 cut longitudinal ly throughout its" length, providinga clearance for the juncture portion between the body and web of the upright member. In Fig. 3 has been shown the two leaf spring member frictional tension between the upright and. receptaclemembers. It comprises a flatrectangular blank of springy metal with one half bent over laterally to lie flat against the other half. The closed edge of this two leaf spring is shouldered, or cut in, equidistant from the top and bottom, forming thetailpiece 7. This tail-piece 7 is so dimensioned that it may be inserted into the opening 5 of the socket member, in a tight fit. member is joined to the socket 4 so that it seats within the socket. The depth of the tail-piece 7 is somewhat greater than the thickness of metal of the socket, permitting that portion of the tail-piece protruding beyond the outside Wall of the socket to" be riveted over. This forms a permanent and rigid connection between the socket and the leaf spring, reference being had to Fig. 1.

In Fig. 4 there is shown a dental remov for adjusting the degree of i The spring able bridge comprising the artificial first molar 8 and artificial second bicuspid 9, mounted on the. bridge saddle 10. At the left an upright member of the attachment is permanently attached to the restoration 11, an inlay, on the second molar 12. More specifi cally, the Web 2 is joined by solder, or any other suitable means, to the restoration 11.

At the right the web 2 of asecond upright member is similarly attached by solder, or

any other suitable means, to a restoration 13, likewise an inlay, forming a fixed part of the first bicuspid 14. These two upright members become permanent fixtures in the mouth and serve as the anchorage for the removable bridge in the mouth.

In a like manner the receptacle members for these two upright members are positioned by solder, or any other suitable means, on the saddle 10 structure of the removable denture,

with the sockets l engaging the correspond ing bodies 1. The socket members when attached to the removable bridge become a permanent part of the removable denture. The technique for performing the mechanical operations necessary to construct the type of bridgework employing my attachmentshas not been gone into, as it is well understood by those skilled in this branch of dentistry.

With continued use of the removable bridge in the month, there occurs wear on both the upright and receptacle members of the attachment, producing a loose fit and often unintentional dislodgement of the removable denture from the mouth. To correct this condition it is merely necessary to wedge apart the two leaf springs of the spring member, thereby increasing the frictional retention between the upright and receptacle memers;

In Fig. 1 the socket 4 is shown with a closed top 15. Under conditions to be met with in the mouth, it may prove more desirable to construct the socket f without a top, i. e., from a section of tubing. In Fig. 2 thesocket 4 is shown without a top covering 15.

There has been illustrated, reference being had to Fig. 5, the embodiment of my dental attachment in an oval form. Here the dou ble leaf spring member '16 has been shown circular in section. In Fig. 5 the webQ is made upon an oval body 17 whlch engages with the cooperatively oval shaped socket 18. The design of my dental attachment may just as readilybe embodied in a variety of other shapes. i a

It is quite evident that modifications and changes may be readily made in the structure herein set forth by those skilled in the art, within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is: r

lfA dental attachment for removable bridgework comprising a longitudinally grooved body member made integral with a web member adapted to be permanently mounted on an abutment tooth in the mouth, a socket member provided with a longitudinal opening in the wall thereof adapted to be permanently mounted on the removable denture and a double leaf spring member adapted to be permanently mounted within the opening of said socket member to engage within the groove of the body member.

2. A dental attachment for removable bridgework comprising a body member provided with a groove extending longitudinally the entire length thereof, a web member made integral with the body member adapted to be permanently oinedto an abutment tooth in the mouth, a longitudinally recessed socket member, closed at the top and provided with an opening in the wall thereof, adapted to be permanently mountedon the removable dentureand a double flat leaf spring member adapted to be securely joined to the socket member within the opening thereof toride in the groove of the body member.

3. A dental attachment for removable bridgework comprising a cylindrical body member longitudinally grooved throughout its length, a web made upon the head extending the full length thereof for joining the head to an abutment in the mouth, a longitudinally recessed cylindrical socket member, open at the top and bottom and having positioned an opening in the wall thereof, to be seated upon the removable denture and a shouldered double leaf spring member with the shoulder thereof adapted to be inserted into the cooperatively positioned opening in the socket wall in a permanent fit riding within the grooved body member.

4. In a dental attachment for removable bridgework, a body member with a groove cut longitudinally from top to bottom made on a Web member for permanent positioning in the mouth, a slitted socket member, with an opening opposite the slit, forpermanent positioning on the removable denture and a two leaf spring member shouldered laterally, po-

sitioned within the socket opening with the shoulder riveted through the opening, adapted to ride within the grooved body member.

Signed at New York city in the county of New York and State of New York this 25th day of February, A. D. 1929.

, EDIVARD II. ECKER. 

